Benefits of University Education

‘Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century.’ — Perelman

These words define the significance of university education in current times. Unlike school, we don’t go to university because we ‘have to’ but because we ‘want to’. Higher education is a challenge both in terms of learning and paying for the learning. Inspite of these challenges, the number of people joining Universities have increased manifold than compared to ten years ago. To understand why this is so, let’s look at some of the major benefits of university education.

Career opportunities:

University education leads to an increase in earning capacity, a broader range of opportunities, and a more rewarding career. Most employers target university graduates in their recruitment campaigns. A graduate has a better prospect of being selected for a job than an individual who did not attend university. Employers prefer university graduates because a higher educational qualification generally demonstrates the skills and qualities valued by them.

Defining career:

University education allows the freedom to decide on a line of work or career. Universities provide a whole range of courses ranging from well-known academic subjects such as English, History, Economics, etc to less familiar ones such as Philosophy, Criminology, etc. They also provide opportunities to select career-specific courses such as medicine, software engineering, journalism, etc. These job-specific courses allow you to chart your career by studying subjects close to your heart and making progress in a career with job satisfaction.

Changing career direction:

University education is a great way to implement your desire for a career change. A higher education gives you the confidence to change tracks from what you have been doing all these years. It provides you with the necessary skills and knowledge to kick-start a new and rewarding career. Universities also provide the option of flexible study to help fit higher education with existing work commitments.

Enhancing career advancements:

University education not only allows you to choose a career or implement a career change, but also enhances career advancements. A higher qualification becomes useful to get on with work at good times and boost employability in bad times. Many employers support their staff in the pursuit of higher education that would improve their skills. This support can come either in the form of flexible work timings or a help with course costs. Research has shown that a higher qualification reflects on career progress not only in terms of climbing the ladder faster, but also in making bank accounts fatter.

Age, no limit:

Not all the students in universities are those that walked in straight after school. About 60 percent of students are over 21 and have come back to university to continue their education. The reasons to return could vary from a long-held ambition to simply a desire to change career path. Whatever the reasons, universities allow you to pursue your education at any time in your life. Some universities admit mature students without the pre-requisite traditional qualification and allow credits for relevant work experience.

Personal growth:

University education also provides opportunities for personal growth by exposing us to a rich cultural and social milieu. Universities allow students to meet and interact with people from different social, cultural, and financial backgrounds. You learn new ways of learning things as well as learn a lot of new things. You have the control over how and when you study; at the same time you also have the responsibility to make the most of this opportunity. A university education teaches the need to work with dedication and commitment in addition to the traditional skills of essay writing, research, group discussions, etc. Above all this, there is the social education of growing up and learning to live and work with others.

In the words of Albert Einstein, — ‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.’ True to his words, a university education is what remains with us and helps us make a living. All the same, it is not just a means to earn a living but also a means to better living.